U.S. ‘confident’ in Russia over its nuclear cooperation with Venezuela

U.S. President Barack Obama salutes while exiting Marine One at the White House October 15, 2010 in Washington, DC. Obama was attending an event for Senate candidate Chris Coons in Delaware. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

October 16, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) — The United States will “watch closely” cooperation between Russia and Venezuela in the nuclear sphere, but has confidence in Russia regarding the observance of international nuclear non-proliferation obligations, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.

The agreement was reached in April 2010 during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Caracas.

When asked during a daily press briefing in Washington if the United States had any concerns regarding the deal – considering that Venezuela had “a little bit of ties with Iran” – Philip Crowley said “well, this is something that we will watch very closely.”

“It is certainly a right of any country to pursue civilian nuclear energy, but with that right come responsibilities and we would expect Venezuela, Russia, or any other country pursuing this kind of technology to meet all international obligations,” Crowley said, adding “the last thing we need to do is see technology migrate to countries or groups that should not have that technology.”

“But we have confidence in Russia,” he said.

Western powers fear that Iran, which is already under four sets of UN sanctions over its controversial nuclear program, may obtain advanced nuclear technologies, which would jeopardize security in the Middle East.

At Friday’s signing ceremony in Moscow, President Dmitry Medvedev said cooperation with Venezuela in nuclear field does not constitute a threat for other countries.